ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday chaired a meeting to review the progress of government initiatives under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme for the construction of houses for low-income people and the development of the construction sector.
The meeting was attended by Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Lieutenant General Anwar Ali Haider (retd) and senior officers, while Governor SBP Reza Baqir, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen, Arif Habib, Mudassar Khan, Aqeel Karim Dhedi, Hassan Bakhshi and others via video link.
Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said that the Naya Pakistan Housing Project was the most important project of the present government in terms of economic flow, which would enable the development of many allied industries.
He said that in view of the coronavirus, the government had paid special attention to the development of the construction sector, so as to promote the construction sector and ensure the provision of houses to the low-income people.
To create employment opportunities, the prime minister said that the government was providing assistance of Rs30 billion for the completion of the Naya Pakistan Housing Project, so that the project of providing shelter to low-income people could be taken forward.
The prime minister directed that the recommendations of the think tank be finalised in consultation with the commercial banks to ensure the creation of financial resources for housing projects under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme.
The prime minister directed that under the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, a special cell comprising representatives of the SBP, concerned ministries, provincial governments and relevant provincial departments should be constituted to improve coordination and resolve construction-related issues on fast track basis.
Chairman Naya Pakistan Housing Authority told the meeting that in view of the coronavirus situation, a think tank consisting of experts in the field of construction has been formed to promote the construction sector and move forward the Naya Pakistan Housing Project.
He said that think tank had made recommendations regarding the management of financial resources for the promotion of housing, especially for low-income people, and the method to be adopted in that regard.
Regarding concessions in the construction sector, it was informed that the fees for transfer and registration of property had been significantly reduced and this had been implemented in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
In addition, the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority is making special arrangements to facilitate developers and builders, so that they can easily avail the incentives provided by the government in the construction sector, he added. The meeting also discussed in detail the recommendations of the think tank.